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(No Model.) a Sheets-Sheet 1. M. V. MILLER. GAME APPARATUS.

No. 482,685. Patented Sept. 13, 1892.

WITNESSES:

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2. M. V. MILLER.

GAME APPARATUS. No. 482,685. Patented Sept. '13, 1892.

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(No Model.)

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Patented Sept. 13, 1892.

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WITNESSES:

/I/IlIIIII/IIII ii Hllll IIHIIIH 7% W Nfm UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MORRIS V. MILLER, OF BELLAIRE, OHIO, ASSIGN OR OF ONE-HALF TO NATALIE IMMERWAl-IR AND EDWARD JONES, OF SAME PLACE.

GAME APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 482,685, dated September 13, 1892.

Application filed August 29, 1891. Serial No. 404,103- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MORRIS V. MILLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bellaire, in the county of Belmont and State of Ohio, have invented or discovered certain new and useful Improvements in Game Apparatus, of which improvements the following is a specification.

The invention described herein relates to certain improvements in games; and it consists, generally stated, in a circular revoluble table provided at its perimeter with a series of pockets or pigeon-holes, and a ball-shooting device consisting of a frame pivoted at the center of the table and a spring-actuated cue for actuating the balls, all as hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a view looking down on the table, a portion of the covering of the pockets or pigeon-holes being removed. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the table and shooting device. Fig. 3 is a plan view, on an enlarged scale, of the shooting device, the cover being removed. Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of the same. Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are detail views of the shooting device. Fig.8 is a sectional detail view, the plane of section being indicated by line w 10, Fig. 1; and Fig. 9 is a similar view, the plane of section being indicated by line 2 2, Fig. 8.

In the practice of my invention the circular bed 1 of the table is attached to a plate 2, provided with the pivot-pin 3, which is adapted to fit in the socket 4 of the supporting-standard 5, provided with suitable supporting-feet. The lower pointed end of the pivot-pin 3 rests in a bearing-block 6, which is adjusted in the socket 4: by means of screws 7 for the purpose of leveling the table. The socket is provided with a packing-ring 8 near its upper end for supporting the pin laterally,

while permitting of such adjustment of the lower end of the pin as is necessary fol-leveling the table.

, On the bed 1 is secured a peripheral band 9, projecting a short distance above the upper surface of the bed. Upon this band is secured an annular cap-plate 10, projecting inwardly over the bed, as shown in Fig. 2, its inner edge being supported by a series of posts 11, arranged a distance apart a little greater than the diameter of the balls employed in the game, and covered with a short section of rubber tubing or other suitable resilient material. A pool Pis formed on the table by wings 12, extending from points on the line of the posts 11 in curved lines toward the center of the table, as shown in Fig. 1. The inner faces of the wings are provided wit-h suitable resilient cushions 13, which extend around the ends of the wings, Whose inner adjacent ends are separated by a distance equal to or slightly greater than the diameter of the balls used in the game. the line of posts 11 and the outer band 9 is formed a gutter 14, lined with rubber to deaden the noise of the balls rolling therein. The bottom of this gutter inclines both ways from a point opposite the space between the inner ends of the wings to the pool, so that all balls which enter the gutter will roll around to the pool.

In order to prevent the balls from rebounding out of the pockets or pigeon-holes formed by the posts or pillars 11 on contact with the band 9, rubber cushions or knobs 14 are secured to the under side of the annular capplate 10 in line with the pockets or pigeonholes and are adapted to deflect the ball down into the gutter.

The shooting device consists of a frame 15, having arms 15 at its inner end, attached to a circular metal plate 16, provided near its center with an opening 17 for the passage of the head of the pin or screw 18 in the center of the table and with a slot 19 extending to the center of the plate 16 and of a width less than that of the head of the screw or pin. After the plate has been adjusted on the screw it is held there by a spring provided with a cap 20, fitting over the head of the screw.

Between At the outer end the frameis provided with a recess 21 for the reception of the edge of the i annular cap-plate 10 and is held from upward movement by a strip 22, passing under the edge of the cap-plate. Within the frame is placed a rod 23, supported in suitable bearing-blocks 2-1 and 25 and provided near its inner end with an arm 26, projecting forward at an angle with the rod and provided at its outer end with a socket 27 for the reception of cushion 28. A spring 29 is arranged around the rod 23 and bears at its ends against the block 24 and a plate 30, secured to the rod, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Finger-pieces 31 are secured to the outer end of the rod 23 and project beyond the sides of the frame, so as to be accessible to the fingers of the operator for the purpose of drawingback the rod. The rod is held in its retracted position by a tooth 32, engaging one of a series of notches or the teeth formed on the upper face of a spring 33, secured at one end to the under side of the frame, as shown in Fig. 4. When it is desired to release the rod 23, the operator presses on the cap of a pin 34, passing through the upper side of the frame and resting upon the spring 33. The series of teeth on the spring 33 permit of the placing of the propellingspring 29 under a tension proportional to the force of the blow to be imparted to the ball, which, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, is held in position to be hit bya slight groove 35 in the portion of the plate 16 between the arms 15, said groove slightly deepening from the perimeter of the plate to the'point where the ball is to be held.

In order to facilitate the placing of the ball in position, a gutter 36 is formed on the top of the frame 15 by independent bars secured to the frame or by cuttinga groove in the top of the frame, and inclines so that a ball placed therein will roll toward and drop through a wire loop 37, attached to the inner end of the frame. This loop is made of a diameter slightly larger than that of the ball and is arranged with its center above the point where the ball rests when in position to be struck. In order to prevent injury to the ball, the wire loop is covered with suitable elastic material.

In using my apparatus a ball is placed on one of the spots a (shown in Fig. 1) and a ball is placed in position in the shooting device. The operator then turns the table around, holding the shooting device until the balls are in proper alignment with each, in order that the live ball or the one inthe shooting device may so strike the ball on the spot a that both balls will. enter different pockets or pigeon holes formed by the cushioned posts or pillars 11. The operator then pushes down upon the pin 34, thereby releasing the rod which has been previously drawn back. Such balls as enter the pigeon-holes will return to the pool P. The opening between the adjacent ends of the wings forming the pool can be utilized as a pocket or pigeon-hole.

In lieu of mounting the table so as to be revoluble it may be made stationary, the operator shifting the shooting device around as required.

The upper surface of the bed 1 is covered with cloth or other suitable material, and underneath this cloth at the center of the bed is placed a thin circular disk 39 of such a diameter that the edges of said disk will project beyond the circular head of the shooting device a distance approximately equal-to half the diameter of the balls employed, as shown in Fig. 7. This disk will form a ridge around the head of the shooting device, so that in case a ball should roll so gently against said head that it will not rebound from the cushion 38 around the perimeter of the head the elevation due to the projecting edge of the disk Will cause the ball to roll away from the head, thereby avoiding all liability of disturbing the position of the ball when the table or head is rotated.

By reference to Figs. 2 and4 it will be seen that the frame of the shooting device is supported by its circular head and the annular cap-plate 10 a sufficient distance above the bed of the table to permit the balls to pass freely under said frame. By reference to Figs. 1 and 3 it will be seen that the arms 15 of the head of the shooting device form lateral guides or supports for the ball when in position in the head, while the groove 35 is designed to cause the ball to roll into proper position relative to the cushioned socket 27 for being hit thereby. As shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the forward end of the rod 23 is provided with a cushioned extension 23, which, striking against a suitable abutment in the frame, serves to limit the forward movement of the rod 23 when propelled by the spring 29.

The game maybe used as follows: By placing balls on the circles at the outer ends of radiating lines shown in Fig. 1 and driving said balls by means of the shooting device acting on a ball placed in front of it into the pockets or between the posts 11 directly in front of the balls on the circles above referred to; or balls may be placed on the small circles at the inner ends of the radiating lines and theyin turn driven by the ball propelled by the shooting device against the balls on the outer circles, the purpose being to pocket both balls2'. e., those on the outer and inner circles.

I claim herein as my invention- 1. In a game apparatus, the combination of a table, an upwardly-projecting band or rim arranged ator near the perimeter of the table, a series of cushioned posts or pillars arranged a short distance apart inside of the band or rim, said posts and rim forming pockets for the reception of balls, and a ball propelling or shooting device pivoted at the center of the table and adapted to drive the balls across the table, substantially as set forth.

2. In a game apparatus, the combination of a revoluble table provided at or near its perirneter with a series of pockets or pigeonholes for the reception of balls and a ball propelling or shooting device pivoted at the center of the table, adapted to drive the balls horizontally across the table, substantiallyas set forth.

3. In a game apparatus, the combination of a table,a series of pockets or pigeon-holes arranged around the table for the reception of asaees balls, a pool, and a gutter passing around hehind the pockets and constructed to conduct the balls to the pool, and a ball propelling or shooting device pivoted at the center of the table and adapted to drive the balls horizontally across the table, substantially as set forth.

4. In a game apparatus, the combination of a table, an upwardly-projecting band or rim arranged at or near the periphery of the table, a series of cushioned posts or pillars arranged a short distance apart inside of the band or rim, said posts and band forming pockets for the reception of the balls, the space between the posts and band having a bottom inclined toward one point of the table, and a ball propelling or shooting device pivoted at the center of the table and adapted to drive the balls across the table, substantially as set forth.

5. In a game apparatus, the combination of a table provided at or near its perimeter with a series of pockets or pigeon-holes, a ball propelling or shooting device pivoted at the center of the table, a gutter arranged 011 top of the shooting device for conducting the balls toward the inner end thereof, and a loop at the end of the shooting device for guiding the ball into position, substantiallyas set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

MORRIS V. MILLER. Witnesses: r

H. G. IMMERWAHR, H. A. LICHTENBERGER. 

